Worcester County Sheriff Lew Evangelidis said he also has concerns about the governor's offer.

"There are public safety concerns, there are health concerns, these children are going to need medical care," Evangelidis said. "I think he'll need to be very careful before he makes this final decision."

Gov. Deval Patrick said the children could be housed for up to four months at either Camp Edwards on Cape Cod or at Westover Air Base in Chicopee.

Patrick said each child would stay for an average of about 35 days and that all expenses will be picked up by the federal government while they are being processed for deportation, reunification or asylum.

The children would receive food, care and education while at the facility, Patrick said, and will not attend local schools. All children would receive a medical screening before entering the state, including all essential vaccines.

"There are children alone in a foreign land," Patrick said, adding that he believes government has a moral responsibility to look after unaccompanied minors. "This good nation is great when we open our doors and our hearts to needy children and diminished when we don't."

Religious leaders said the state has proven it can help in times of crisis.

"During the Katrina crisis, the state came together in an unprecedented way to help those who were victims of Hurricane Katrina in New Orleans," said Rev. Jeffrey Brown, who headed up the effort.

Copyright 2014 by WCVB.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

WE ARE TOLD NO ONE WAS ON BOARD THE VESSEL WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE. THE PRELIMINARY CAUSE OF THE FIRE IS THE VALVE THRUSTERS. MORE PUSHBACK FROM THE COMMUNITY AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT'S PROPOSAL TO BRING IMMIGRANT CHILDREN TO MASSACHUSETTS. THEY SAY IT COULD BECOME A PUBLIC SAFETY CONCERN. OFFICIALS SAY THEY SIMPLY CANNOT HANDLE AN INFLUX OF HUNDREDS OF IMMIGRANT CHILDREN. WE REALLY DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCES TO DO IT. THEY ARE WORRIED ABOUT THE POTENTIAL LONG-TERM IMPACT OF TAKING IN IMMIGRANT CHILDREN FROM THE BORDER. MY CONCERNS WOULD BE FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. IT MAY PUT PRESSURE ON OUR UNDERSTAFFED POLICE DEPARTMENT. EVEN THOUGH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYS IT WOULD PICK UP THE COST AND HOUSING WOULD BE LIMITED, THERE IS LITTLE TRUST THAT THE GOVERNMENT WILL KEEP ITS WORD. IT DOESN'T HAVE A GREAT TRACK RECORD. GOVERNOR PATRICK SAYS THE AVERAGE STAY WOULD BE 35 DAYS AND RELIGIOUS LEADERS SAY THE STATE HAS PROVEN ITS ABILITY TO HELP IN TIMES OF CRISIS. DURING KATRINA, THE STATE CAME TOGETHER IN AN UNPRECEDENTED WAY TO HELP VICTIMS OF THE HURRICANE IN NEW ORLEANS. LEADERS LIKE REVEREND JEFFREY BROWN SAY HELPING THE CHILDREN IS AN OBLIGATION. THINK ABOUT THE NEEDS OF THE CHILDREN. THINK ABOUT WHAT CAN I DO AS AN AMERICAN TO BE HELPFUL TO THEM. RIGHT NOW, THE GOVERNMENT --